US7735827B2 - Free transport for settling and singling of letters - Google Patents
Free transport for settling and singling of letters Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US7735827B2 US7735827B2 US11/019,676 US1967604A US7735827B2 US 7735827 B2 US7735827 B2 US 7735827B2 US 1967604 A US1967604 A US 1967604A US 7735827 B2 US7735827 B2 US 7735827B2
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- individual flat
- band conveyor
- items
- batch
- band
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Active, expires
Links
Images
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H5/00—Feeding articles separated from piles; Feeding articles to machines
- B65H5/02—Feeding articles separated from piles; Feeding articles to machines by belts or chains, e.g. between belts or chains
- B65H5/021—Feeding articles separated from piles; Feeding articles to machines by belts or chains, e.g. between belts or chains by belts
- B65H5/023—Feeding articles separated from piles; Feeding articles to machines by belts or chains, e.g. between belts or chains by belts between a pair of belts forming a transport nip
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H29/00—Delivering or advancing articles from machines; Advancing articles to or into piles
- B65H29/68—Reducing the speed of articles as they advance
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H5/00—Feeding articles separated from piles; Feeding articles to machines
- B65H5/02—Feeding articles separated from piles; Feeding articles to machines by belts or chains, e.g. between belts or chains
- B65H5/021—Feeding articles separated from piles; Feeding articles to machines by belts or chains, e.g. between belts or chains by belts
- B65H5/026—Feeding articles separated from piles; Feeding articles to machines by belts or chains, e.g. between belts or chains by belts between belts and stationary pressing, supporting or guiding elements forming a transport nip
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H5/00—Feeding articles separated from piles; Feeding articles to machines
- B65H5/24—Feeding articles in overlapping streams, i.e. by separation of articles from a pile
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H2301/00—Handling processes for sheets or webs
- B65H2301/30—Orientation, displacement, position of the handled material
- B65H2301/32—Orientation of handled material
- B65H2301/321—Standing on edge
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H2301/00—Handling processes for sheets or webs
- B65H2301/40—Type of handling process
- B65H2301/44—Moving, forwarding, guiding material
- B65H2301/445—Moving, forwarding, guiding material stream of articles separated from each other
- B65H2301/4451—Moving, forwarding, guiding material stream of articles separated from each other forming a stream or streams of separated articles
- B65H2301/44514—Separating superposed articles
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H2701/00—Handled material; Storage means
- B65H2701/10—Handled articles or webs
- B65H2701/19—Specific article or web
- B65H2701/1916—Envelopes and articles of mail
Definitions
- the teachings herein generally relate to an apparatus and method for conveying and separating batched letters, especially individual letters having unique properties.
- the disclosed concepts provide for a method for the preparatory processing of bundled flat goods which can be realized by technically simple and inexpensive techniques. Advantageously, this allows for long tool life, great processing speed, and further reduction of staff. Other disclosed concepts provide for a device which can realize such a method without problems, which works reliably and treats individual flat goods gently.
- the disclosed concepts provide for a method for processing batched items, which may comprise a multitude of flats, e.g., letters.
- the individual items are conveyed in a row and abut against a band conveyor with one edge. They are at least partially resting against and overlapping each other in a shingle-like manner.
- the overlapping flats are further separated (fanned out) by later processing steps described herein.
- the disclosed concepts further relate to a device for processing batched items, e.g., a multitude of flats.
- the device comprises a band conveyor for conveying each flat standing on one edge, and where the band conveyor comprises a guiding distance which is limited by guiding structures on both sides.
- the band conveyor is constructed as an underfloor conveyor.
- One way to fan-out the flat goods is to preliminarily or periodically brake the stack of letters arriving in a row, which are lying on top of each other in a shingle-like manner.
- the row of individual items is conveyed by the underfloor conveyor, braked by the brake mechanism on one side and on the other side grabbed by drive devices and accelerated towards the single pull-off mechanism.
- the negative acceleration provided by the brake mechanism on one side and the positive acceleration provided by the drive device on the other side cooperate to increasingly fan out the individual goods which are resting against each other in a shingle-like manner.
- the flat goods conveyed by the band conveyor are lead towards the brake mechanism with one flat edge before reaching the single pull-off.
- the band conveyor transports or conveys the letters in the middle layers of the flat good more than the letters which abut against the brake mechanism because those that abut are slowed with respect to the conveyance speed of the band conveyor.
- the individual goods are increasingly shingled even more than before.
- the flat good is engaged by a driven side band such that each of the engaged items is accelerated in the direction of the single pull-off. This measure, too, contributes to further shingling.
- the brake mechanism is configured to brake an individual item in the outer layers of the flat good which abuts against the brake mechanism with respect to the speed of the band conveyor. Accordingly, the guiding structure which is located on the other side of the band conveyor formed by the drive device accelerates an individual item at the outer side of the flat good with respect to the speed of the band conveyor. Thus, the pre-shingled flat good is loaded on both sides and is shingled further.
- the parameters for braking (negative acceleration) and/or (positive) acceleration and/or of the conveyance speed are set in a way that the individual items lying on top of each other are fanned out a bit further, where the distance of the leading edges of the individual items and thereby the amount of the fanning-out after the processing does not fall below a certain adjustable minimum. It may be preferred to set the parameters in a way that the distance of the leading edges at the end of the processing is at least 5 cm. Therefore, the individual item at the head of the row constituted by the flat good has a head start towards the following individual item of at least 5 cm before it is pulled out of the row by the single pull-off. As a result, a reliable single pull-off is realized while avoiding multiple pull-offs.
- flat good includes a stack of flat items (individual items), where the individual items do not have to lie on top of each other in a tiling manner.
- a flat good may also be referred to as a batch.
- the letters to be processed they are processed in a row displaced towards each other. They are only stacked with respect to their lower edge (orientation edge) on which they stand.
- each piece of a set “flat good” is called “individual item” or “individual flat item”.
- the flat good is nonetheless treated carefully and does not experience damage.
- Another advantage is the fact that the device can be realized in a compact assembly at low cost. Thereby, it can be integrated into existing systems without problems.
- a further specialty lies in the fact that the disclosed concepts fulfill at least two functions.
- the letters are settled and conveyed on their orientation edge on the free transport or settling line, as opposed to being clamped relatively tightly between two belts.
- the shingling of the letters takes place after the shingling smoothly.
- the disclosed concepts thereby combines in an ideal way the so-called settling with the singling.
- the flat goods are transported freely, resting upright on the band conveyor within a free transport distance with a certain lateral guidance, namely through adjacently abutting individual items, but nevertheless without lateral clamping.
- the two opposite guiding structures within the free transport distance namely the brake mechanism and the drive device, are located at such a distance to each other that even individual devices in the middle of thicker packs are freely transported through the guiding structures without lateral clamping.
- the length of the free transport constitutes a comparatively large section of the transport channel. This allows for enough time for the settling, while the individual items on the free transport distance have the possibility, to abut with their lower edge completely against the band conveyor. With the supported settling, the lower edge becomes the defined orientation edge which is helpful in later processing.
- the brake mechanism is formed by a wall with a high adhesion factor, against which the individual items located at one side of the flat good abut with one side.
- the wall can be formed by a plate part or a guide plate, whose surface is furnished with a friction lining.
- the friction lining can be a rubber-like material to which the letters stick.
- the brake mechanism can be formed by a slowly running side band whose surface has a high adhesion factor. This is advantageous to guarantee the equal abrasion of the surface and thereby to increase the tool life.
- the shifting of the wall can be initiated by certain measures, where a control to the processed amount of flat good shall be provided. It is, however, especially easy and inexpensive if the movement is initiated by a spring force which takes effect in the direction of the band conveyor. As a result, the transport channel is broadened automatically upon arrival of a thick stack, and the contact pressure remains the same during the reduction of the stack by the wall shifting. There, the strength of the spring force is advantageously adjustable. It is also advantageous if the movement of the brake mechanism in the direction of the band conveyor is limited by a stop, so that the channel always has a certain width.
- the shifting of the wall may operate switches and/or be monitored by sensors.
- the shingling is especially effective if the lateral guiding structures, especially the side band and the wall of the brake mechanism, are arranged at an acute angle of only a few degrees, namely 1 to 5 degrees, towards one another, where the guiding structures converge in funnel-form in transport direction. Then, the angle and the distance is advantageously adjustable.
- the arriving flat good is braked in a kind of funnel, where at one side, the letters are accelerated by the drive belt.
- the lateral guiding structures have approached each other before the single pull-off up to the average estimated thickness of a few, namely less than three individual items. So, a wedge effect is accomplished at the end of the free transport distance.
- the method described in the course of this application as well as the device are advantageously introduced in a very early stage of mail processing, which is nowadays chiefly accomplished by manual work.
- the letters are delivered in sacks directly out of the letter-boxes, whose contents are emptied onto a band conveyor.
- From this mixed mail delivered as a heaped flat good at first large-sized letters are sorted out manually.
- the remaining mails then have to be bundled, to be squared up with respect to their longitudinal edges (orientation edges) and to be packed into corresponding formatted and standardised boxes.
- the letters neatly pooled in the boxes can then be further processed.
- the letters can be readily prepared for being inserting into the box. This work was up to now performed manually.
- the letters which lie on the band conveyor in a more or less uneven heap are fed onto a chute, lying on which they slide into a trench. There, the individual items hit the bottom of the trench with one edge and are held in the vertical position by the corresponding walls of the trench, which are standing together closely. By this, an alignment of the letters has taken place.
- a band conveyor is located which conveys the standing letters along the trench in the direction of the device. Now, the letters abut against each other in a shingle-like manner and can be further processed with the method according to the invention.
- the speed of the band conveyor which is located at the bottom of the trench and which is covered with a strongly frictional friction lining is set so highly that the letters hitting from the chute and/or the already aligned letters are tipped onto their orientation edge. So to say, the rug is pulled from under the letters which hit on their narrow edge, so that they automatically fall onto the edge which assure a preferably low centre of gravity.
- FIG. 1 illustrates a top view of the device according to the disclosed concepts.
- FIG. 2 illustrates a view of the device according to FIG. 1 .
- FIG. 3 illustrates a top view of another embodiment of the device according to the disclosed concepts.
- FIG. 4 illustrates a view of a ramp with a slanted trench.
- FIG. 1 illustrates a device for preparing of flat goods which are delivered in a bundled stack, namely a letter pack 1 .
- the device comprises an underfloor belt 2 (shown in FIG. 2 ) or band conveyer 2 as a band conveyor, on which the letters 1 standing on a longitudinal edge (orientation edge) are conveyed in the direction of arrowhead A (letter running direction).
- the band conveyor 2 is limited laterally by guiding structures along a guiding line, where the band conveyor and the guiding structures form a transport channel 3 , in which the letters 1 are held from toppling down.
- the letter pack 1 is fanned out in the transport channel 3 to a row of letters which lie on top of each other in a shingle-like manner.
- the Transport path 3 converges into a single pull-off 4 , which grabs the letter 5 arriving at the head of the row and advances it from the shingled row of letters 1 .
- the guiding structure located on one side is formed by a brake mechanism 6 , which brakes a letter located on the adjacent side of the letter pack 1 with respect to the speed of the band conveyor.
- the brake mechanism 6 comprises a wall with a high adhesion factor, against which the letters located at the right side of the letter pack 1 abut with some offset.
- the wall 6 is held on a mounting plate 7 , which can be positioned in an acute angle towards transport direction A by screws 9 running in elongated holes 8 .
- the mounting of the wall 6 takes place by means of two elements 10 , which are held shiftable in the direction of arrowheads B. These elements 10 are loaded by springs 11 , so that the wall 6 can automatically adjust to different fill levels.
- the right side is seated movably, where the movement is limited in the direction of the band conveyor by a stop.
- the guiding structure located on the other side in transport direction A, is constituted by a drive device, which accelerates a letter on the other side of the letter pack 1 .
- the drive device comprises a driven side band 12 , which has proportional to the band conveyor the same running direction A, but a higher speed.
- the adjacent letters are accelerated towards the single pull-off 4 by the side band 12 .
- the side band 12 sort of wipes the separate letters off the top of the stack.
- the side band 12 is seated on and driven by rollers 13 .
- the rollers 13 are mounted on a belt plate 14 which can also be adjusted via screws 16 running in elongated holes 15 in a distance to the wall 6 and with respect to its angle. This once chosen setting may remain, however, throughout service. Although one may modify the screws to be adjustable throughout service.
- the side band 12 and the wall 6 are positioned in an acute angle of approximately 2 degrees towards each other and converge in funnel-form in transport direction.
- the side band 12 and the wall 6 have approached each other before the single pull-off 4 up to the average estimated thickness of a few letters.
- the wall 6 and the side band 12 are at such a distance to each other that letters within the letter pack 1 may be conveyed freely without lateral clamping and that they settle to the underfloor band with their orientation edge completely.
- FIG. 3 shows a modified form of the device according to FIG. 1 .
- the running direction is indicated with arrowhead A.
- the non-illustrated letters are conveyed on a non-illustrated underfloor band and are carried between two side bands 20 a and 20 b whose speed has been adapted.
- the letters arrive at an underfloor band 21 which is driven by motor 27 and thereby at a brake mechanism.
- the brake mechanism has, in addition to the accelerated side band 22 , a braking side band 23 which rotates slowly around the rolls 24 and 25 in transport direction.
- the side band 23 has a high adhesion factor and can be pivoted around the axis of the roll 24 in the direction of arrowhead B at right angle to the transport direction. There, it is loaded with a spring force against the letters.
- the slow movement of the side band 23 leads to an equal abrasion of the friction lining.
- Behind the braking side band 23 a further side band 26 is located which leads the letters to the pull-off.
- FIG. 4 shows a ramp with a slanted trench.
- a chute which in this case comprises two chamfers 30 and 31 , where the chamfer 30 has a lower inclination than the chamfer 31 .
- the letters 32 slide in any orientation in the direction of arrowhead C down into a trench 33 .
- the letters 32 hit the band conveyor 34 on the bottom of the trench with on edge and are held in the vertical position by the walls of the trench 33 which are standing together closely.
- the band conveyor 34 conveys them at high speed in the direction of arrowhead D.
- the band conveyor 34 moving quickly in the direction of arrowhead D, the letters settle onto their long orientation edge. The tendency to settle onto the orientation edge is supported by the fact that the band conveyor at the bottom of the trench is inclined at an angle of 35°.
- the disclosed concepts provide for a method for the preparatory processing of bundled flat goods 1 which can be realized by technically simple and inexpensive techniques. Advantageously, this allows for long tool life, great processing speed, and further reduction of staff. Other disclosed concepts provide for a device which can realize such a method without problems, which works reliably and treats individual flat goods gently.
- the disclosed concepts provide for a method for processing batched items 1 , which may comprise a multitude of flats, e.g., letters.
- the individual items are conveyed in a row and abut against a band conveyor 2 with one edge. They are at least partially resting against and overlapping each other in a shingle-like manner. The overlapping flats are further separated (fanned out) by later processing steps described herein.
- the disclosed concepts further relate to a device for processing batched items 1 , e.g., a multitude of flats.
- the device comprises a band conveyor 2 for conveying each flat standing on one edge, and where the band conveyor 2 comprises a guiding distance which is limited by guiding structures on both sides.
- a fundamental aspect of the disclosed concepts lies in the fanning-out of the flat good 1 standing on edge on the band conveyor 2 .
- the band conveyor 2 is constructed as an underfloor conveyor 2 .
- One way to fan-out the flat good 1 is to preliminarily or periodically brake the stack of letters arriving in a row, which are lying on top of each other in a shingle-like manner.
- the row of individual items is conveyed by the underfloor conveyor 2 , braked by the brake mechanism 6 on one side and on the other side grabbed by drive devices and accelerated towards the single pull-off mechanism.
- the individual goods which are resting against each other in a shingle-like manner are increasingly fanned out.
- the flat goods 1 conveyed by the band conveyor 2 is lead towards the brake mechanism 6 with one flat edge before reaching the single pull-off.
- the band conveyor 2 transports or conveys the letters in the middle layers of the flat good more than the letters which abut against the brake mechanism 6 because those that abut are slowed with respect to the conveyance speed of the band conveyor 2 .
- the individual goods are increasingly shingled even more than before.
- the flat good 2 is engaged by a driven side band 12 such that each of the engaged items is accelerated in the direction of the single pull-off. This measure, too, contributes to further shingling.
- the brake mechanism 6 is configured to brake an individual item in the outer layers of the flat good 1 which abuts against the brake mechanism 6 with respect to the speed of the band conveyor 2 . Accordingly, the guiding structure which is located on the other side of the band conveyor 2 formed by the drive device 12 accelerates an individual item at the outer side of the flat good 2 with respect to the speed of the band conveyor 2 . Thus, the pre-shingled flat good 1 is loaded on both sides and is shingled further.
- the parameters for braking (negative acceleration) and/or (positive) acceleration and/or of the conveyance speed are set in a way that the individual items lying on top of each other are fanned out a bit further, where the distance of the leading edges of the individual items and thereby the amount of the fanning-out after the processing does not fall below a certain adjustable minimum. It may be preferred to set the parameters in a way that the distance of the leading edges at the end of the processing is at least 5 cm. Therefore, the individual item at the head of the row constituted by the flat good 1 has a head start towards the following individual item of at least 5 cm before it is pulled out of the row by the single pull-off. As a result, a reliable single pull-off is realized while avoiding multiple pull-offs.
- the flat goods 1 are transported freely, resting upright on the band conveyor 2 within a free transport distance with a certain lateral guidance, namely through adjacently abutting individual items, but nevertheless without lateral clamping.
- the two opposite guiding structures within the free transport distance namely the brake mechanism 6 and the drive device 12 , are located at such a distance to each other that even individual devices in the middle of thicker packs are freely transported through the guiding structures without lateral clamping.
- the length of the free transport constitutes a comparatively large section of the transport channel. This allows for enough time for the settling, while the individual items on the free transport distance have the possibility to abut with their lower edge completely against the band conveyor. With the supported settling, the lower edge becomes the defined orientation edge which is helpful in later processing.
- the brake mechanism 6 is formed by a wall with a high adhesion factor, against which the individual items located at one side of the flat good 1 abut with one side.
- the wall can be formed by a plate part or a guide plate, whose surface is furnished with a friction lining.
- the friction lining can be a rubber-like material to which the letters stick.
- the brake mechanism 6 can be formed by a slowly running side band whose surface has a high adhesion factor. This is advantageous to guarantee the equal abrasion of the surface and thereby to increase the tool life.
- the shifting of the wall can be initiated by certain measures, where a control to the processed amount of flat good shall be provided. It is, however, especially easy and inexpensive if the movement is initiated by a spring force which takes effect in the direction of the band conveyor. As a result, the transport channel is broadened automatically upon arrival of a thick stack, and the contact pressure remains the same during the reduction of the stack by the wall shifting. There, the strength of the spring force is advantageously adjustable. It is also advantageous if the movement of the brake mechanism in the direction of the band conveyor is limited by a stop, so that the channel always has a certain width.
- the shifting of the wall may operate switches and/or be monitored by sensors.
- the singling is especially effective if the lateral guiding structures, especially the side band and the wall of the brake mechanism, are arranged at an acute angle of only a few degrees, namely 1 to 5 degrees, towards one another, where the guiding structures converge in funnel-form in transport direction. Then, the angle and the distance is advantageously adjustable.
- the arriving flat good is braked in a kind of funnel, where at one side, the letters are accelerated by the drive belt. It is furthermore advantageous if the lateral guiding structures have approached each other before the single pull-off up to the average estimated thickness of a few, namely less than three individual items. So, a wedge effect is accomplished at the end of the free transport distance.
- the method described in the course of this application as well as the device are advantageously introduced in a very early stage of mail processing, which is nowadays chiefly accomplished by manual work.
- the letters are delivered in sacks directly out of the letter-boxes, whose contents are emptied onto a band conveyor.
- From this mixed mail delivered as a heaped flat good at first large-sized letters are sorted out manually.
- the remaining mails then have to be bundled, to be squared up with respect to their longitudinal edges (orientation edges) and to be packed into corresponding formatted and standardised boxes.
- the letters neatly pooled in the boxes can then be further processed.
- the letters can be readily prepared for being inserting into the box. This work was up to now performed manually.
- the letters which lie on the band conveyor in a more or less uneven heap are fed onto a chute, lying on which they slide into a trench. There, the individual items hit the bottom of the trench with one edge and are held in the vertical position by the corresponding walls of the trench, which are standing together closely. By this, an alignment of the letters has taken place.
- a band conveyor is located which conveys the standing letters along the trench in the direction of the device. Now, the letters abut against each other in a shingle-like manner and can be further processed with the method according to the invention.
- the speed of the band conveyor which is located at the bottom of the trench and which is covered with a strongly frictional friction lining is set so highly that the letters hitting from the chute and/or the already aligned letters are tipped onto their orientation edge. So to say, the rug is pulled from under the letters which hit on their narrow edge, so that they automatically fall onto the edge which assure a preferably low centre of gravity.
- the shifting of the wall can be initiated by certain measures, where a control to the processed amount of flat good shall be provided. It is, however, especially easy and inexpensive if the movement is initiated by a spring force which takes effect in the direction of the band conveyor. As a result, the transport channel is broadened automatically upon arrival of a thick stack, and the contact pressure remains the same during the reduction of the stack by the wall shifting. There, the strength of the spring force is advantageously adjustable. It is also advantageous if the movement of the brake mechanism in the direction of the band conveyor is limited by a stop, so that the channel always has a certain width.
- the shifting of the wall may operate switches and/or be monitored by sensors.
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Feeding Of Articles By Means Other Than Belts Or Rollers (AREA)
- Separation, Sorting, Adjustment, Or Bending Of Sheets To Be Conveyed (AREA)
- Attitude Control For Articles On Conveyors (AREA)
- Delivering By Means Of Belts And Rollers (AREA)
Applications Claiming Priority (6)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
DE10361175 | 2003-12-23 | ||
DE10361175 | 2003-12-23 | ||
DE10361175.4 | 2003-12-23 | ||
DE102004029712.6 | 2004-06-21 | ||
DE102004029712 | 2004-06-21 | ||
DE102004029712A DE102004029712A1 (de) | 2003-12-23 | 2004-06-21 | Freilauf und Vereinzelung von Briefen |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20050146089A1 US20050146089A1 (en) | 2005-07-07 |
US7735827B2 true US7735827B2 (en) | 2010-06-15 |
Family
ID=34553343
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US11/019,676 Active 2027-01-06 US7735827B2 (en) | 2003-12-23 | 2004-12-23 | Free transport for settling and singling of letters |
Country Status (2)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US7735827B2 (fr) |
EP (1) | EP1547948B2 (fr) |
Families Citing this family (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE602007009034D1 (de) * | 2007-01-31 | 2010-10-21 | Neopost Technologies | Mehrstationssystem und Verfahren zur Verarbeitung von Papierpostsendungen |
JP5000427B2 (ja) * | 2007-08-21 | 2012-08-15 | 京セラドキュメントソリューションズ株式会社 | 自動原稿給送装置および画像形成装置 |
DE102010027107A1 (de) * | 2010-07-14 | 2012-01-19 | Siemens Aktiengesellschaft | Aufricht-Vorrichtung und Aufricht-Verfahren für flache Gegenstände |
Citations (9)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE1116602B (de) | 1960-09-01 | 1961-11-02 | Telefunken Patent | Foerderstrecke zum Ausrichten von leichtem, flachem Sortiergut in einer Hochkant-Foerderbandanlage |
DE1931189A1 (de) | 1968-06-19 | 1970-01-02 | Cs Uranovy Prumysl Koncern | Ortsveraende,liche Bohrvorrichtung zum Ausfuehren von zylindrischen Einbruechen |
DE2401530A1 (de) | 1974-01-14 | 1975-07-24 | Kluge | Vorrichtung zur zufuehrung von beilagen zu einer vereinzelungsvorrichtung |
US4119194A (en) * | 1976-07-19 | 1978-10-10 | Pitney-Bowes, Inc. | System and apparatus for the orientation and bidirectional feed of indicia bearing mail |
US4149622A (en) * | 1977-12-27 | 1979-04-17 | Burroughs Corporation | Mail selection and metering device |
US4534550A (en) * | 1981-09-18 | 1985-08-13 | Ferag Ag | Apparatus for pulling apart flat products, especially printed products arriving in an imbricated product stream |
US5238236A (en) * | 1992-11-12 | 1993-08-24 | Pitney Bowes Inc. | Document singulating apparatus for feeding upright documents of varying thickness |
FR2692565A1 (fr) | 1992-06-18 | 1993-12-24 | Cga Hbs | Dispositif de stabilisation d'objets plats et en particulier de plis de courrier. |
US5494276A (en) * | 1994-01-03 | 1996-02-27 | Bell & Howell Company | Method and apparatus for shingling documents |
Family Cites Families (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2941653A (en) † | 1957-12-02 | 1960-06-21 | Emerson Radio & Phonograph Cor | Mail handling apparatus |
DE1931189U (de) * | 1965-10-25 | 1966-01-13 | Standard Elektrik Lorenz Ag | Vorrichtung zum vereinzeln unregelmaessig angelieferter flacher gegenstaende in hochkantfoerderanlagen. |
DE3444335A1 (de) † | 1984-12-05 | 1986-06-05 | Licentia Patent-Verwaltungs-Gmbh, 6000 Frankfurt | Vereinzelungseinrichtung |
DE10212024A1 (de) † | 2002-03-19 | 2003-10-16 | Interroll Holding Ag S Antonin | Vorrichtung und Verfahren zum Vereinzeln von flächigen Stückgütern |
-
2004
- 2004-12-16 EP EP04029756A patent/EP1547948B2/fr not_active Not-in-force
- 2004-12-23 US US11/019,676 patent/US7735827B2/en active Active
Patent Citations (10)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE1116602B (de) | 1960-09-01 | 1961-11-02 | Telefunken Patent | Foerderstrecke zum Ausrichten von leichtem, flachem Sortiergut in einer Hochkant-Foerderbandanlage |
US3203534A (en) | 1960-09-01 | 1965-08-31 | Telefunken Patent | Conveyor |
DE1931189A1 (de) | 1968-06-19 | 1970-01-02 | Cs Uranovy Prumysl Koncern | Ortsveraende,liche Bohrvorrichtung zum Ausfuehren von zylindrischen Einbruechen |
DE2401530A1 (de) | 1974-01-14 | 1975-07-24 | Kluge | Vorrichtung zur zufuehrung von beilagen zu einer vereinzelungsvorrichtung |
US4119194A (en) * | 1976-07-19 | 1978-10-10 | Pitney-Bowes, Inc. | System and apparatus for the orientation and bidirectional feed of indicia bearing mail |
US4149622A (en) * | 1977-12-27 | 1979-04-17 | Burroughs Corporation | Mail selection and metering device |
US4534550A (en) * | 1981-09-18 | 1985-08-13 | Ferag Ag | Apparatus for pulling apart flat products, especially printed products arriving in an imbricated product stream |
FR2692565A1 (fr) | 1992-06-18 | 1993-12-24 | Cga Hbs | Dispositif de stabilisation d'objets plats et en particulier de plis de courrier. |
US5238236A (en) * | 1992-11-12 | 1993-08-24 | Pitney Bowes Inc. | Document singulating apparatus for feeding upright documents of varying thickness |
US5494276A (en) * | 1994-01-03 | 1996-02-27 | Bell & Howell Company | Method and apparatus for shingling documents |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
US20050146089A1 (en) | 2005-07-07 |
EP1547948B2 (fr) | 2012-11-14 |
EP1547948A1 (fr) | 2005-06-29 |
EP1547948B1 (fr) | 2009-09-23 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
US9878349B2 (en) | Postal sorting machine with a feed inlet having a robotized arm and a sloping flat conveyor | |
US5297785A (en) | Pre-feed shingling device for flat-article feeder | |
US20160263622A1 (en) | Postal Sorting Machine With a Feed Inlet Having a Robotized Arm and a Vertically Movable Magazine | |
US10501269B2 (en) | Singulation of parcels | |
EP0565498B1 (fr) | Procédé et dispositif pour transporter des paquets avec bouchon minimal | |
US5360316A (en) | Flats pieces singulation apparatus | |
EP1161392B1 (fr) | Procedes et appareil permettant d'acheminer des paquets avec un minimum de blocages | |
US8727341B2 (en) | Feeding apparatus for flat items processed in a mail sorting machine with pulleys located under transport deck | |
JP2001515002A (ja) | 給送装置 | |
US5388388A (en) | Method and apparatus for diverting an envelope in an inserter | |
US7735827B2 (en) | Free transport for settling and singling of letters | |
EP0660796B1 (fr) | Section de transport segmentee possedant des bandes d'enlevement a vitesse acceleree | |
US11097903B2 (en) | Board conveyor apparatus for use in a board processing system | |
US20130334763A1 (en) | Sheet Feed Apparatus and Method | |
US8146910B2 (en) | Conveying device for feeding printed products to a processing unit | |
JP2006516471A (ja) | 扁平な郵便物のための細いスタッキングコンパートメント | |
US8727344B2 (en) | System for improving stacking of flat items | |
US20020017447A1 (en) | Apparatus and method for stacking flat articles on-edge in a horizontal row | |
US8002266B2 (en) | Pickoff mechanism for mail feeder | |
US20060000752A1 (en) | Stack correction system and method | |
US20050072654A1 (en) | Conveyor assembly | |
US8205871B2 (en) | Separator device using balls for separating flat articles | |
US7862040B2 (en) | Item feeder with overthickness detection | |
JPH11268837A (ja) | 郵便物の分離供給装置 | |
CN114313902A (zh) | 自动供件装置 |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: BOWE BELL + HOWELL COMPANY, NORTH CAROLINA Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:EMANUEL, MATHIAS;REEL/FRAME:016381/0171 Effective date: 20050317 Owner name: BOWE BELL + HOWELL COMPANY,NORTH CAROLINA Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:EMANUEL, MATHIAS;REEL/FRAME:016381/0171 Effective date: 20050317 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: HARRIS N.A., AS SECURED PARTY, ILLINOIS Free format text: SECURITY AGREEMENT;ASSIGNOR:BOWE BELL + HOWELL COMPANY;REEL/FRAME:022694/0606 Effective date: 20090513 Owner name: HARRIS N.A., AS SECURED PARTY,ILLINOIS Free format text: SECURITY AGREEMENT;ASSIGNOR:BOWE BELL + HOWELL COMPANY;REEL/FRAME:022694/0606 Effective date: 20090513 |
|
STCF | Information on status: patent grant |
Free format text: PATENTED CASE |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: BELL AND HOWELL, LLC, NORTH CAROLINA Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:BOWE BELL + HOWELL COMPANY;REEL/FRAME:026533/0413 Effective date: 20110623 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, PENNSYLVANIA Free format text: SECURITY AGREEMENT;ASSIGNORS:BELL AND HOWELL, LLC;BELL AND HOWELL BCC, LLC;REEL/FRAME:026598/0456 Effective date: 20110623 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: CONTRADO BBH FUNDING 2, LLC, PENNSYLVANIA Free format text: SECURITY INTEREST (SUBORDINATED LOAN);ASSIGNOR:BELL AND HOWELL, LLC;REEL/FRAME:026722/0845 Effective date: 20110623 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: BELL AND HOWELL, LLC, NORTH CAROLINA Free format text: BANKRUPTCY COURT ORDER RELEASING ALL LIENS;ASSIGNOR:HARRIS N.A. FOR ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR BY MERGER TO HARRIS TRUST AND SAVINGS BANK;REEL/FRAME:027139/0160 Effective date: 20110602 |
|
FPAY | Fee payment |
Year of fee payment: 4 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, OHIO Free format text: RELEASE BY SECURED PARTY;ASSIGNORS:BELL AND HOWELL, LLC;BELL AND HOWELL BCC, LLC;REEL/FRAME:036552/0376 Effective date: 20150904 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: WINTRUST BANK, ILLINOIS Free format text: SECURITY INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:FLUENCE AUTOMATION LLC;REEL/FRAME:043648/0315 Effective date: 20170731 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: FLUENCE AUTOMATION LLC, ILLINOIS Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:BELL AND HOWELL, LLC;REEL/FRAME:043670/0092 Effective date: 20170731 |
|
FEPP | Fee payment procedure |
Free format text: ENTITY STATUS SET TO SMALL (ORIGINAL EVENT CODE: SMAL) |
|
MAFP | Maintenance fee payment |
Free format text: PAYMENT OF MAINTENANCE FEE, 8TH YR, SMALL ENTITY (ORIGINAL EVENT CODE: M2552) Year of fee payment: 8 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: BELL AND HOWELL, LLC, NORTH CAROLINA Free format text: RELEASE OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY INTERESTS;ASSIGNOR:BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.;REEL/FRAME:048630/0032 Effective date: 20181203 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: BELL AND HOWELL, LLC, NORTH CAROLINA Free format text: RELEASE OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY INTERESTS RECORDED AT R/F 26722/0845;ASSIGNOR:CONTRADO BBH FUNDING 2, LLC, AS SECURED PARTY;REEL/FRAME:048961/0714 Effective date: 20181207 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: FLUENCE AUTOMATION LLC, ILLINOIS Free format text: RELEASE BY SECURED PARTY;ASSIGNOR:WINTRUST BANK, N.A., FORMERLY WINTRUST BANK;REEL/FRAME:058714/0838 Effective date: 20211029 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH, NEW YORK Free format text: TERM LOAN SECURITY AGREEMENT;ASSIGNOR:FLUENCE AUTOMATION LLC;REEL/FRAME:058523/0318 Effective date: 20211216 Owner name: DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH, NEW YORK Free format text: ABL SECURITY AGREEMENT;ASSIGNOR:FLUENCE AUTOMATION LLC;REEL/FRAME:058523/0303 Effective date: 20211216 |
|
FEPP | Fee payment procedure |
Free format text: MAINTENANCE FEE REMINDER MAILED (ORIGINAL EVENT CODE: REM.); ENTITY STATUS OF PATENT OWNER: SMALL ENTITY |
|
FEPP | Fee payment procedure |
Free format text: 11.5 YR SURCHARGE- LATE PMT W/IN 6 MO, SMALL ENTITY (ORIGINAL EVENT CODE: M2556); ENTITY STATUS OF PATENT OWNER: SMALL ENTITY |
|
MAFP | Maintenance fee payment |
Free format text: PAYMENT OF MAINTENANCE FEE, 12TH YR, SMALL ENTITY (ORIGINAL EVENT CODE: M2553); ENTITY STATUS OF PATENT OWNER: SMALL ENTITY Year of fee payment: 12 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: DMT SOLUTIONS GLOBAL CORPORATION, CONNECTICUT Free format text: MERGER;ASSIGNOR:FLUENCE AUTOMATION LLC;REEL/FRAME:062462/0534 Effective date: 20220707 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT, NEW YORK Free format text: SECURITY AGREEMENT;ASSIGNORS:BCC SOFTWARE, LLC;DMT SOLUTIONS GLOBAL CORPORATION;REEL/FRAME:064784/0295 Effective date: 20230830 Owner name: DMT SOLUTIONS GLOBAL CORPORATION, CONNECTICUT Free format text: RELEASE BY SECURED PARTY;ASSIGNOR:DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH;REEL/FRAME:064785/0658 Effective date: 20230830 Owner name: DMT SOLUTIONS GLOBAL CORPORATION, CONNECTICUT Free format text: RELEASE BY SECURED PARTY;ASSIGNOR:DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH;REEL/FRAME:064785/0491 Effective date: 20230830 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: SILVER POINT FINANCE, LLC, ILLINOIS Free format text: SECURITY INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:BCC SOFTWARE, LLC;DMT SOLUTIONS GLOBAL CORPORATION;REEL/FRAME:064819/0445 Effective date: 20230830 |